Restaurant News

Korean flavors add to this indulgent specialty

Dish of the Week: Kalbi jjim poutine from Salaryman
Salaryman's kalbi jjim poutine tops the classic Canadian dish with a flavorful Korean short rib stew. Henri Hollis/henri.hollis@ajc.com
Salaryman's kalbi jjim poutine tops the classic Canadian dish with a flavorful Korean short rib stew. Henri Hollis/henri.hollis@ajc.com
Oct 26, 2021

The basic building blocks of poutine — french fries, cheese curds and gravy — are extremely adaptable. The indulgent Canadian specialty gets an exciting injection of Korean flavor in Salaryman’s version of poutine, topped with a Korean-style beef stew called kalbi jjim.

Kalbi jjim, made with beef short ribs, is a natural companion for french fries. The tender meat shreds easily, and distributes itself evenly throughout the fries — a crucial aspect of smothered dishes, such as poutine or nachos.

The rich, savory stew is offset by the acidity of kimchi, and shredded cheese puts this decadent poutine over the top. Although cheese is a rarity in most East Asian cuisine, its popularity has grown explosively in South Korea.

A dish that might have seemed like a non sequitur in the early 2000s makes perfect sense today.

Salaryman. 2371 Hosea L. Williams Drive SE, Atlanta. 404-228-1458, koreanwives.com.

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About the Author

Henri Hollis is a restaurant critic and food reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he covers Atlanta’s restaurants, chefs and dining culture. As part of the AJC’s Food & Dining team, he reviews new restaurants, reports on industry trends and explores metro Atlanta’s culinary scene through the neighborhoods and people that shape it.

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